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BRONXVILLE N.Y. – After negotiating for more than a year, the Bronxville Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and the Bronxville Village Board of Trustees have reached a four-year collective bargaining agreement.

Under the new contract, all 20 Bronxville police officers will receive a retroactive salary increase of 2 percent from June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012, a 2.25 percent increase for each of the next two years, and a and 2.5 percent increase in the last year of the contract, from June 1, 2014, to May 31, 2015.

Under the contact, salaries for officers hired after June 1, 2013 will start at $47,500 and will increase for three years until topping out at $77,500. The contract also increases longevity compensation for officers after five, 10, 15 and 20 years of service.

Another change in the new contract is that the village will no longer maintain the current dental and vision plan for PBA members, but will instead contribute $1,300 for every member every year to a fund designated to provide the coverage.

Mayor Mary Marvin said she couldn't be any happier with coming to terms on a four-year contract.

"I was very pleased that we didn't go to arbitration and allow a third party to make a decision on behalf of the village," said Marvin. "The process was great, and it was a total negotiation, not two sides fighting against each other. We worked to find common ground that both sides would be comfortable with."

Brenton Dorre, president of the Bronxville PBA, said the agreement was reached because of the high level of communication between both sides.

"I would say that members are happy with the contract because it benefits both sides," said Dorre. "There's not anything specific that stands out as the best thing, but overall it's just a fair agreement. We realized that the village wasn't going to agree on some of our terms so we decided that the best thing was to negotiate something that was best for everyone involved."

Village Trustee and Board Liaison to the Police Department Anne Poorman worked very closely with the negotiations and was crucial in helping to finalize the contract, said Marvin.

"We were thrilled to reach a four-year deal because now we can start to concentrate on the needs of the department and its officers," said Marvin. "Anne and I both took this very seriously because it involves the taxpayers' money, and an institution that truly supports the community."